20th August, 2012, New Delhi: Wim Koevermans, the coach of Indian national football team, has been forced to keep striker Jeje Lalpekhlua out from the squad for the Nehru Cup. On Sunday, the India coach announced the final twenty men team with footballers like Rocus Lamare and Joaquim Abranches failing to make it to the squad.
Jeje, who was a part of the AFC Challenge Cup 2011 and SAFF Championships team, is not fit to play. After the national team shifted its base to the capital, Jeje was a bit concerned about his match fitness.
In Jeje’s absence, India will largely depend on captain and striker Sunil Chhetri. Striker Manandeep Singh and Alwyn George Alwyn, the attacking mid-fielder, has been selected form the under – 22 team.
Koevermans told that the training sessions were good and it is good to see the players pushing each other. He is happy with the preparation and quite confident about the ability of the players. On Wednesday, defending champs India will take on Syria in the first match of the tournament.
India Squad
Goalkeepers: Subrata Pal, Subhasish Roychowdhury and Karanjeet Singh.
Defenders: Denzil Franco, Nirmal Chhetri, Gouramangi Singh, Raju Gaikwad, Gurwinder Singh and Syed Rahim Nabi;
Midfielders: Mehtab Hossain, Lenny Rodrigues, Jewel Raja, Alwyn George, Francis Fernandes Anthony Pereira, Clifford Miranda and Sanju Pradhan.
Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Robin Singh and Manandeep Singh.
